COSTA RICA - Happiest Place In Central America - 27
THE
ITINERARY
The downpour soaks half of my hair in less than 2 seconds that it took for me to run from the car to the open reception. T h e b o u t i q u e h o t e l i s s t u n n i n g. H a r d t o f i n d , k i n d o f i n t h e middle of the rainforest but absolutely beautiful. The view of the forest with the ocean blending into the horizon is breatht a k i n g. “ T h i s i s yo u r r o o m , a n d h e r e w e h av e a l l t h e a m e n i t i e s a n d a n o u t d o o r s h o w e r ” , - t h e c o n c i e r g e ’s k i n d e ye s s m i l e. “ Wi l l yo u b e j o i n i n g u s f o r d i n n e r t o d a y ” ? M y h e a d n o d s a s m y e ye s s m i l e b a c k . T h i s m a s k - w e a r i n g t h i n g definitely took communication to a whole new level. …“Help me understand, are we are supposed to model, too?”i t i s t a k i n g a l l o f m y c o n c e n t r a t i o n t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e r e s p o n s e. T h e c o n n e c t i o n ov e r s e a s i s a l w a y s a c h a l l e n g e. W h a t s A p p k e e p s b r e a k i n g t h e c a l l . M i k e, a p a r t n e r w e a r e s u p p o s e d t o w o r k w i t h i n C o s t a R i c a , s o u n d s a n g r y. “ P l e a s e, c a l m d o w n . I a m s i m p l y a s k i n g f o r a n i t i n e r a r y. ” - a mix of confusion and apprehension runs through my mind. M i k e ’s r a i s e d t o n e s o n t h e o t h e r s i d e o f t h e l i n e a r e n o t w e l comed. “ We a l w a y s d o w h a t w e a g r e e t o . I p e r s o n a l l y s i g n o f f o n e v e r y i t i n e r a r y. We m a d e a n e x c e p t i o n f o r yo u , a n d I a m s i m p l y a s k i n g f o r yo u t o p u t d o w n o n p a p e r a l l t h a t h a s b e e n d i s c u s s e d , s o e v e r yo n e i s o n t h e s a m e p a g e. C a n yo u , p l e a s e, e m a i l i t t o me?” - a seemingly simple and logical question unleashes ano t h e r b u r s t o f f u r y f r o m M i k e. “ O k , l e t ’s c o n t i n u e t h i s c o nv e r s a t i o n t o m o r r o w w h e n w e m e e t i n p e r s o n ” , - a q u i c k p o l i t e g o o d - bye l e av e s m y l i p s a n d f i n g e r s h i t t h e “ e n d c o nv e r s a t i o n ” b u t t o n . Another fraction of a second, and decision is made in mind: “ B o b by, w h a t d o yo u t h i n k i f w e c o m p l e t e l y r e a r r a n g e o u r p l a n s ? S o m e t h i n g ’s o f f a b o u t t h i s g u y. I c a n’ t p u t m y f i n g e r o n it, but it just feels… uneasy” A pause sets in as thoughts rush in my mind. A shade of a doubt gains more and more strength. A m I j u m p i n g t o c o n c l u s i o n s p r e m a t u r e l y ? M a y b e, h e j u s t s i m p l y ov e r r e a c t e d . Ye s . P r o b a b l y. My conscious and subconscious minds try to reason with each o t h e r. “ H o w a b o u t t h i s . L e t ’s m e e t h i m a n d s e e h o w w e f e e l . A n d t h e n I m a k e a d e c i s i o n . S o u n d s g o o d ? ” - m y e ye s r e f o c u s o n B o b by. His head nods in agreement. G o o d . We h av e a p l a n B . T h e t h o u g h t i s c o m f o r t i n g. I t t a k e s m e e x t r a m e n t a l p o w e r t o s h a k e o f f t h e h e av y f e e l i n g. I w i l l d e a l w i t h e v e r y t h i n g t o m o r r o w. M y e ye s c l o s e i n e x h a u s t i o n . I t ’s b e e n a l o n g d a y. . .
